The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-10-22

lore tne time designated by the constitution itself,
so that 1t might be taken up outside ofmere party
matters. The same old opposition raised, and
they had the power to defeat that bill. Now you
come to the time when the constitutional question
must be acted upon by the people OF Maryland, and
these eonspirators, more interested in preventing
constitutional convention that In electing their
ticket. again call on the Republicans. But the Re
publeans say, "oh IL you want get the aid OF
the Republican party to carry out your ideas and
schemes you must let us make the ticket, and we
viii give you in the platform such pledges as you
require So they are adopting the same old
methods of every voter who has left his party
First refusing to vote the party ticket then taper
ing with the nominees and defeating the ticket and
finally plunging over the other side. Mshone
did the same thing. but he had more courage than
these Maryland Mahones He took but one leap
after the first. Itwould have been much better for
Maryland and much more honorable for these
gentlemen if they had come out three years
ago and become Republicans. I respect the man
who has his party views. Now in Baltimore county
you have about half-dozen in this first stage. If
they persist in it, tell them to come out and fight
you manfully by getting the other side altogeth
Black goats aud white they give the other side
a halfyote; let them give 1t ALL
As to this constitutional convention. the Demo-
cratic party in power in nearly every county in
the State. and we knew that it would not be wise,
even upon higher plane than that in the interest
Of the State to discuss these tax questions mere
partisan matter. Therefore we said no Democrat
shall be bound by any resolution ofa State coven-
ton to vote for or against constitutional conyen-
tion. The Republicans met and adopted plat
form. You may read that platform. aud if you do
not come TO the conclusion which 1 am about te
state, then will surrender the whole case and that
is that cowen and his confreres-and when speak
of Cowen and his legal department want to sepa-
rate him and them from Mr.. Robert Garrett and
every other general officer of the railroad, who,
believe, have knowledge of this matter-that
Cowen for the purpose of ingratating himselfn tho
minds OF those into whose hands the B. and o. is
about to pass-that knowing its financial condition
better than any other man, and being more respon
sible than any other for its critical condition
knowing it is soon to pass into the hands of Jay
Gould and his associates-I have no question that
he has started this movement knowing that it
would be offs service to the masters he soon will
have. These my individual conclusions.
do not know what passes at their interviews, for
have no keyhoe knights TO secure information.
| IApplause.l
Cowen made the bargain, and there it is on the
face of the ticket He says: ave don't want any
taxation; therefore, If you will go against the new
constitution will help you" And there are Wal
lis and Marshall and few visionary people who are
extremely anxious for a civil-service law and oget
their services the Republicans agree to eiviser-
vice plank, and for these two things they are all
converted to the Republican party. Now what does
the Republican party get? Read Mr.. McComas'
Speech-"We will elect Republican President in
1883; we will resolve that Congress should pass the
Blair BILL we will resolve that the colored people in
Maryland have been badly treated in the common
schools and that 1t is disgrace to the State that
they are not put upon an equality with the whites"
They he'd to put this in because the Republican
marty nj fnrfv.seven thousand eolored men
and twenty-nine thousand white men. So that Mr..
Wallis and his friends are committed to these things
Now, what is the Blair bill? 1t is that will ex
tend the powers of the general government for the
first time in its history against all the protests OF the
Democracy we will take one hundred million dol
lars of the taxes and will distribute it among the
States according to illiteracy to help out these
Southern States that we have plundered, but upon
one condtion-that Maryland or any other State ac-
cepting this money will agree to put the colored
schools upon an exact equality with the white
schools Mr.. Marshall and his associates are con-
verted to that and they knew when they started in
that when their movement is successful that, not
withstanding the responsibility of Mr. Brooks they
will support the very man who DISTINGUISHED us
during the war, and If they have the opportunity,
with Mr. Brooks as Governor they will use the Leg
slature as they attempting to use the courts,
for the purpose of depriying the freemen of this,
desire. Now, there are some excuses made about it
Whenever a man is going to do a very mean thing
he always tries TO find some excuse. He is anxious
70 find IL there Is not in the regular church
who sinned who is as bad as he is about to be.
They look around the Democratic party and try to
find man who has been a know nothing they try
to find one who has been q Republican, and when
they find man OF that sort they set mp loud howl
and entirely disregarded the fact that the man may
have atoned for the very far past by years Of hard
service in the Democratic ranks. Mr. Marshall says
some of voted for Mcclellan in 1864; that we are
as bad as he is But he says more than that There
is Mr.. German. He. in 1860, '61, go and 'GS a
Republican ofIiceholder. Have not as much right
to vote for Mr.. Brooks he had to BE- Republican
during these years."
It was too much to expect of Mr.. Marshall or Mr.
Wallis during this campaign that they could tell the
truth about me. 1t would not serve their purposes
If had been Republican, twenty years of hard SER
vice in the Democratic party would entitle me to
plead the statute of Limitation. Applause and
laughter.l But the fact was and is-and Mr.. Mar
shall, as resident of the county in which was
born and still reside could easily ascertain it, he
doesn't already know it--that came Of good Demo-
cratic stock. The president of this meeting we'll
knows and you know that in the Senate of the
United States, from the foundation of the govern
ment TO the present hour the minority of the Senate
has always had certain proportion of its ofices.
During Democratic ascendency we gave the Repub-
licans their representation, and they in turn gave rs
our proportion. and am glad to say that was the
choice of that distinguished patriot Stephen a.
Douglas) who over his own signature Stamped this
statement OF these people as lie and said that
was there as his selected agent and as a Democrat
and remained among the Democrats during the war.
And when the war was over and Stockett Mathews
and Stirling and King and the balance of these men
with whom Wallis and Marshall are now lying down.
were disfranchising Democrats here In MARYLAND.
the chosen agent OF the Democracy TO reorgan-'
ize the fifth congressional district and through It
enfranchise these men who are now attempting to
stab me in the back. lApplause.l Let them 20 out
ofhe Democratic ranks. is better and stronger with
I Van aarr Iraa1 1daraeN
you may disagree with him I do in some details,
is recognized as man of iron will and unqueston-
ed integrity. You should stand by him now shoul-
der to shoulder, and push these fellows to the other
side, and call only for the honest and believers
] in Jeilersonian Democracy.
want now to say a word for which nobody IS re-
sponsible but myself This constitutional eonyen-
ton Is a matter for every Democrat to decide for
himself know that under this bargain which
these conspirators have made with the Republicans
you will get their entire vote against new consti-
tuition. There may be Democrats who do not be-
ieve it wise to call that convention now because Il
may cost too much That was the cry in Pennsyl
vania in 1874 They said it would cost too much
Finally they GQt- aud Infringing corporations
the cost Of the convention. New York was in the
same condition but after long struggle they got Il
before the people, and the people by hundred
thousand majority called for the convention, but
Republican Legislature thwarted the will of the
people. l see my friend Talbot in the crowd smil-
| ing at me in his peculiar manner. know what he
| to come here that If 1 did not come it would be
charged against me that had stolen the canal and
gone to Canada lLaughterl He wants me to say
| that am still in the State and intend to remain
and that will be here in 1883 when these fellows
| come again. [Applause Now they have a habit Of
charging everything up @ me. and if this constitu
tional convention fails, they will say we did not
make effort becauseto secure a new constitution
we wanted to sacrifice the interest of the State in
| these great public works, because sacrificed they
will be unless the people come to their rescue.
The Chesapeake and Ohio canal has not been sue
cessful and cannot be successful in its present con-
dtion. Like the Erie canal in New York 1t was
constructed at a time when it cost on the railroad
two cents per ton per mile 70 move coal, and they
move 1t now at less than one-haif cent per ton per
mile, while the canal is in the same condition as in
| 1850 and unable to compete with the railroads.
Under the present constitution adopted at the close
of the war, when you were economizing TO the ut
most you determined that you would not dispose OF
your interest in that nal unless disposed ofby
one Legislature and the sale ratified by the next
which practically means 1t cannot be disposed of at
ALL matter how tempting the price offered for IL
] tits the same thing with the susquehanna canal
Under your constitution you cannot dispose Of that
work and IL It Is sold out under the mortgage you
will lose what you might sell ortw0 and half mil
lion dollars tomorrow. The interests that are adverse
i to both these works have power enough TO prevent
syou from passing constitutional amendment thrugh
your Legislature get itvoted upon by the pe0-
pie In Pennsylvania they found absolutely neces-
sary to prevent the consolidation OF railroads and